FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) - The first of three major Florence plants slated to close may end its operations next month.

Hon Co. plant manager Harold Henry said this week that some employees have received layoff notices.

Hillshire Brands and izzy+ also have announced plans to close Florence operations, The Florence TimesDaily reported (http://bit.ly/1rzMJOB ).

The three closings will eliminate about 1,500 jobs, the newspaper reported.

About 200 of those jobs are at Hon, a furniture maker.

At Hillshire Brands, spokeswoman Sara Matheu said Florence production will be phased out in the next three months, with the last day of operations planned for Dec. 30. The Florence plant has about 1,100 workers who will be without a job.

About 200 jobs will be lost at izzy+, which plans to close by summer 2015, though some workers may be able to stay at the plant under a new employer.

Meanwhile, PerformanceScrubs.com, which produces clothing that include medical scrubs and uniforms, announced in June it would open a high-tech manufacturing facility in Florence.

That facility is now in operation with about 25 employees. PerformanceScrubs President and CEO J. Kirby Best said he plans to expand the workforce to 50 by Christmas.

“I’ve just fallen in love with Florence,” said Best, who started his company in 2000. “It’s a jewel in the world that I didn’t even know existed.”